Multi-groove feed system and method for a dual point coiler

ABSTRACT

A multi-groove feed system for a dual point coiling apparatus includes a single set, or a reduced number of sets, of multi-groove feed rolls and multi-groove wire guides, or multi-groove guides, associated with a moveable feed frame to run the entire size or configuration range of wire, or other material, of a dual point coiling machine without the need, or to minimize the need with a reduced number of sets, to change the feed tooling to accommodate a range of sizes or configurations of wire or other material to be coiled. The multi-groove feed rolls are each provided with a plurality of grooves of different sizes or configurations and the multi-groove wire guides, or multi-groove guides, are each provided with a plurality of corresponding apertures or passages of different sizes or configurations that correspond to a plurality of sizes or configurations or wire or other material be coiled.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to spring coiling machines. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a dual point springcoiling machine and method that utilizes a single set, or a minimumnumber sets, of feed rolls and guides for a plurality of wire sizeranges, and also relates to a multiple groove feed system and method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A spring coiler is usually designed to run a range of wire diameters.Because of the high tensile strength of the wire used to make springs, arelatively large amount of pushing force is typically needed to drivethe material into the coiling area of a coiling machine where thematerial is bent into the spring diameter required. Typically, the feedrolls driven by the feed motor through the feed reducer of the springcoiling machine provide this driving force. To assist in keeping thewire straight as it is being pushed through the feed rolls into thecoiling area, the wire passes through wire guides.

To maximize contact with the outside diameter of the wire being fed,each feed roll has a machined semi-circular grooved path to grip thewire. The maximum wire size that can be run in a particular groove sizeoccurs when the wire radius matches the radius of the semi-circulargroove in the corresponding feed rolls. Smaller diameter wire than themaximum wire diameter size can typically be run in the same groove,unless the wire diameter significantly decreases to where the actualcontact area with the feed roll groove decreases so that the feed rollis no longer capable of pushing the wire with sufficient force to coilthe spring. Where this occurs, or is expected to occur, it is necessaryto change the feed rolls to a set of feed rolls with a smallersemi-circular groove radius corresponding to the smaller wire diameterto re-establish sufficient contact to coil the spring.

Similarly, the feed area wire guides are designed to match or correspondto the groove radius in the feed rolls. Thus, a set of feed wire guidescan run the same wire diameter range as the corresponding feed rolls.When the wire diameter to be run requires a different feed roll groovesize to provide sufficient force to coil the spring, the feed wireguides must be changed to correspond to the feed roll groove size, aswell.

Generally, a conventional dual point coiler is a “single wire line”machine through the feed section and into the coiling area. Therefore,in conventional dual point coiling machines, to cover a range of wirediameters to be run on the machine, a number of sets of feed rolls andguides, each capable of running a different wire size range, need to beprovided with the machine. Providing a number of sets of feed rolls andguides for a machine typically poses a significantly greater cost to thecustomer, particularly as the machine size increases and the individualcomponents become large.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate front and side perspective views,respectively, of a single groove feed system 100 mounted on a stationaryframe 126 of a dual point coiling apparatus to coil wire, such as toform a spring. The single groove feed system 100 includes a plurality ofsingle groove feed rolls 138 forming a set of feed rolls. The singlegroove feed rolls 138 are secured to a dual point coiling apparatusincluding the single groove feed system 100 by a feed roll cap 142. Thesingle groove feed rolls 138 convey a wire 136 to be coiled throughintermediate single aperture or single passage wire guides 170,180 to afinal wire guide 150,160 that presents the wire 136 to the coiling pointslides 128 and 130 to be coiled into a spring 132, or other suitablearrangement, in the coiling area 133.

Each of the plurality of feed rolls 138 in a set has a single groove 140of a same or similar size, diameter, or radius that corresponds to apredetermined wire size, radius or diameter. While, as mentioned, it ispossible to run a wire of a size, radius or diameter that is smallerthan the predetermined wire size, radius or diameter, unless the wirediameter significantly decreases to where the actual contact area withthe feed roll groove 140 decreases so that the feed roll 138 is nolonger capable of pushing the wire with sufficient force to coil thespring. Where this occurs, or is expected to occur, it is necessary tochange the feed rolls 138 to a set of feed rolls 138 with a smallersemi-circular groove radius, diameter or size corresponding to thesmaller wire diameter to re-establish sufficient contact with the wire136 to coil the spring.

FIGS. 5C1 and 5C2 respectively illustrate perspective and side views ofa conventional single groove feed roll 138 a having a single groove 140a of a diameter or size X1 (corresponding radius of 0.5 X1, for example)for a relatively large diameter wire. A plurality of feed rolls 138 aeach having a groove 140 a of a same size or diameter X1 (or of theradius 0.5 X1) form a set of feed rolls 138 a, for the relatively largediameter wire to be coiled, that are included in the conventional singlegroove feed system 100 illustrated in FIG. 5A of a dual point coilingmachine.

With the set of feed rolls 138 a, a plurality of conventionalintermediate single groove wire guides 180 illustrated in FIG. 6A arealso included in the single groove feed system 100 as illustrated inFIG. 5A. The intermediate single groove wire guides 180 include upperand lower sections 180 a and 180 b having a single aperture or passage182 of a corresponding size, diameter or radius to the size, diameter orradius of the groove 140 a to receive and accommodate the correspondingrelative diameter wire 136 to be coiled.

Also, a final wire guide 160 illustrated in FIG. 6C is associated withthe single groove feed system 100 as illustrated in FIG. 5A. The finalwire guide 160 includes upper and lower sections 160 a and 160 b havinga single aperture or passage 162 of a corresponding size, diameter orradius to receive and accommodate the corresponding relatively largediameter wire 136 to be coiled.

However, for example, where the conventional single groove feed system100 is to coil wire 136 of a significantly smaller diameter, radius orsize, changing the set of the plurality of feed rolls 138 a, theintermediate wire guides 180, and the final wire guide 160 thataccommodate the relatively larger wire size to accommodate therelatively smaller large wire diameter can be necessary, such as wherethe actual contact area with the feed roll groove 140 a decreases sothat the feed roll 138 a is no longer capable of pushing the relativelysmaller size wire 136 with sufficient force to coil the wire, asdescribed.

In such a case for the relatively smaller diameter or size wire 136,FIGS. 5D1 and 5D2 respectively illustrate perspective and side views ofa conventional single groove feed roll 138 b. The single groove feedroll 138 b includes a single groove 140 b of a diameter or size X2(corresponding radius of 0.5 X2, for example) for a relatively smallerdiameter wire 136. A plurality of feed rolls 138 b, each having a groove140 b of a same size or diameter X2 (or of the radius 0.5 X2), with X2being less than X1, form a set of feed rolls 138 b, for the relativelysmaller diameter or size wire 136 to be coiled, and that are thenincluded in the conventional single groove feed system 100 illustratedin FIG. 5A of a dual point coiling machine.

With the set of feed rolls 138 b, a plurality of conventionalintermediate single groove wire guides 170 of FIG. 6B are also thenincluded in the single groove feed system 100 illustrated in FIG. SA.The intermediate single groove wire guides 170 include upper and lowersections 170 a and 170 b having a single aperture or passage 172 of acorresponding size, diameter or radius to the size, diameter or radiusof the groove 140 b to receive and accommodate the correspondingrelatively smaller diameter wire 136 to be coiled.

Further, a final wire guide 150 of FIG. 6D is then associated with thesingle groove feed roll system 100 as illustrated in FIG. 5A. The finalwire guide 150 includes upper and lower sections 150 a and 150 b havinga single aperture or passage 152 of a corresponding size, diameter orradius to receive and accommodate the corresponding relatively smallerdiameter wire 136 to be coiled.

Also, with a conventional dual point coiling machine in addition to theincreased costs associated with the needed number of sets of feed rollsand guides, there is also the time and labor costs associated withcompleting a tooling changeover to install and remove the various setsof feed rolls and guides.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a multiple groove feed systemfor a dual point coiling apparatus and method that incorporates a singleset, or a reduced number of sets, of feed rolls and guides to run theentire wire size range of the dual point coiling machine without theneed, or to minimize the need with a reduced number of sets, to changethe feed tooling to accommodate a range of wire diameter sizes for thedual point coiling apparatus.

Further, it is desirable to provide a dual point coiling machine thatpromotes cost savings with respect to minimizing the feed toolingrequired for a dual point coiling machine and thereby promote reducingthe time needed to accommodate different wire sizes to be coiled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the presentinvention, wherein according to aspects of the invention, a multiplegroove feed system, apparatus and method are provided that includes asingle set, or a reduced number of sets, of feed rolls and guides to runthe entire wire size range of a dual point coiling machine without theneed, or to minimize the need with a reduced number of sets, to changethe feed tooling to accommodate a range of wire diameter sizes for thedual point coiling apparatus. According to aspects of the invention, themultiple groove feed rolls are each provided with a plurality of groovesof different sizes or diameters and the multiple groove wire guides areeach provided with a plurality of corresponding apertures or passages ofdifferent sizes or diameters that correspond to a plurality of wirediameter sizes to be coiled.

In accordance with embodiments and aspects of the present invention, amulti-groove feed system includes: a plurality of multi-groove feedrolls each including a plurality of different sized or configuredgrooves to feed a material of a predetermined size or configuration in acorresponding selected one of the plurality of grooves; one or moremulti-groove guides positioned intermediate adjacent ones of theplurality of multi-groove feed rolls, with each multi-groove guideincluding a plurality of different sized or configured apertures orpassages that correspond in size or configuration to the plurality ofgrooves of the multi-groove feed rolls to guide the material of thepredetermined size or configuration through a selected one of theplurality of apertures or passages that corresponds to the correspondingselected one of the plurality of grooves; and a moveable feed frameassociated with the plurality of multi-groove feed rolls and the one ormore multi-groove guides, the moveable feed frame being moveable to apredetermined position to align the corresponding selected one of theplurality of grooves and the corresponding selected one of the pluralityof apertures or passages with a material line to a process area toconvey the material of the predetermined size or configuration along thematerial line to the process area.

In accordance with other embodiments and aspects of the presentinvention, a multi-groove feed system of a dual point coiling apparatusincludes: a plurality of multi-groove feed rolls each including aplurality of different sized grooves to feed a wire of a predeterminedsize in a corresponding selected one of the plurality of grooves; andone or more multi-groove guides positioned intermediate adjacent ones ofthe plurality of multi-groove feed rolls, with each multi-groove guideincluding a plurality of different sized apertures or passages thatcorrespond in size to the plurality of grooves of the multi-groove feedrolls to guide the wire of the predetermined size through a selected oneof the plurality of apertures or passages that corresponds to thecorresponding selected one of the plurality of grooves, with thecorresponding selected one of the plurality of grooves and thecorresponding selected one of the plurality of apertures or passagesbeing selectively aligned at a corresponding predetermined position witha wire line to a coiling area of the dual point coiling apparatus toconvey the wire of the predetermined size along the wire line to thecoiling area to coil the wire.

In accordance with further embodiments and aspects of the presentinvention, a multi-groove feed system of a dual point coiling apparatusfurther includes: a moveable feed frame associated with the plurality ofmulti-groove feed rolls and the one or more multi-groove guides, themoveable feed frame being moveable to the predetermined position toalign the corresponding selected one of the plurality of grooves and thecorresponding selected one of the plurality of apertures or passageswith the wire line to the coiling area of the dual point coilingapparatus.

In accordance with yet further embodiments and aspects of the presentinvention, a multi-groove feed system of a dual point coiling apparatusincludes a single set of the multi-groove feed rolls and the one or moremulti-groove guides, the single set including the plurality of groovesand the plurality of passages or apertures to convey an entire sizerange of the wire to be coiled in the coiling area of the dual pointcoiling apparatus.

In accordance with yet still further embodiments and aspects of thepresent invention, a multi-groove feed system includes: means forfeeding a material of a predetermined size or configuration to a processarea, the means for feeding including a plurality of different sized orconfigured grooves to feed the material of the predetermined size orconfiguration in a corresponding selected one of the plurality ofgrooves; means for guiding the material of the predetermined size orconfiguration to the process area, the means for guiding beingpositioned adjacent the means for feeding, with the means for guidingincluding a plurality of different sized or configured apertures orpassages that correspond in size or configuration to the plurality ofgrooves of the means for feeding to guide the material of thepredetermined size or configuration through a selected one of theplurality of apertures or passages that corresponds to the correspondingselected one of the plurality of grooves; and means for aligning thecorresponding selected one of the plurality of grooves and thecorresponding selected one of the plurality of apertures or passageswith a material line to a process area to convey the material of thepredetermined size or configuration along the material line to theprocess area.

In accordance with yet still other embodiments and aspects of thepresent invention, a method of feeding a wire in a dual point coilingapparatus includes: feeding a wire of a predetermined size to a coilingarea of the dual point coiling apparatus by conveying the wire in acorresponding selected one of a plurality of different sized grooves ofa multi-groove feed roll; guiding the wire of the predetermined size tothe coiling area through a corresponding selected one of a plurality ofdifferent sized apertures or passages of a multi-groove wire guide thatcorresponds to the corresponding selected one of the plurality ofgrooves of the multi-groove feed roll; and aligning at a predeterminedposition the corresponding selected one of the plurality of grooves ofeach multi-groove feed roll and the corresponding selected one of theplurality of apertures or passages of each multi-groove guide with awire line to the coiling area.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of theinvention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may bebetter understood, and in order that the present contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodimentsof the invention that will be described below and which will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments inaddition to those described and of being practiced and carried out invarious ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating a dual point coiler includinga multiple groove, or multi-groove, feed system arranged in a positionto coil a relatively large diameter wire, according to aspects of theinvention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating the dual point coilerincluding a multiple groove, or multi-groove, feed system of FIG. 1Aarranged in a position to coil a relatively smaller diameter wire,according to aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1C is a perspective front view of the dual point coiler of FIGS. 1Aand 1B including a multiple groove, or multi-groove, feed system,according to aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1D is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the dual point coilerincluding a multiple groove, or multi-groove, feed system of FIGS. 1Aand 1B, according to aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1E is a diagrammatic front view illustrating the dual point coilerincluding a multiple groove, or multi-groove, feed system of FIGS. 1Aand 1B, according to aspects of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a multiple groove, or multi-groove,feed roll of the multiple groove, or multi-groove, feed system of FIGS.1A and 1B, according to aspects of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a perspective side view of the multiple groove, ormulti-groove, feed roll of FIG. 2A, according to aspects of theinvention.

FIG. 3A is a perspective side view illustrating the multiple groove, ormulti-groove, feed system of FIGS. 1A and 1B arranged in the position ofFIG. 1A to coil a relatively large diameter wire, according to aspectsof the invention.

FIG. 3B is a perspective side view illustrating the multiple groove, ormulti-groove, feed system of FIGS. 1A and 1B arranged in the position ofFIG. 1B to coil a relatively smaller diameter wire, according to aspectsof the invention.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a multiple groove, or multi-groove,wire guide included in the multiple groove, or multi-groove, feed systemof FIGS. 1A and 1B, according to aspects of the invention.

FIG. 5A is a perspective front view of a conventional single groove feedsystem of a dual point coiler.

FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective side view of the conventional singlegroove feed system of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 5C1 is a perspective view of a conventional single groove feed rollof the single groove feed system of FIG. 5A for a relatively largediameter wire to be coiled.

FIG. 5C2 is a perspective side view of the conventional single groovefeed roll of FIG. 5C1.

FIG. 5D1 is a perspective view of a conventional single groove feed rollof the single groove feed system of FIG. 5A for a relatively smallerdiameter wire to be coiled.

FIG. 5D2 is a perspective side view of the conventional single groovefeed roll of FIG. 5D1.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a conventional single groove wire guideof the single groove feed system of FIG. 5A for a relatively largediameter wire to be coiled.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a conventional single groove wire guideof the single groove feed system of FIG. 5A for a relatively smallerdiameter wire to be coiled.

FIG. 6C is a perspective view of a conventional final single groove wireguide as can be used in the single groove feed system of FIG. 5A or inthe multiple groove, or multi-groove, feed system of FIGS. 1A and 1B ofthe present invention for a relatively large diameter wire to be coiled.

FIG. 6D is a perspective view of a conventional final single groove wireguide as can be used in the single groove feed system of FIG. 5A or inthe multiple groove, or multi-groove, feed system of FIGS. 1A and 1B ofthe present invention for a relatively smaller diameter wire to becoiled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawingfigures, in which like reference numerals refer to like partsthroughout. Various embodiments and aspects of the present inventionprovide a multiple groove feed system and method, such as for a dualpoint coiling apparatus, although the invention is not limited in thisregard.

In a multiple groove feed system, according to aspects of the invention,multiple groove, or multi-groove, feed rolls, in a set, are eachprovided with a plurality of grooves of different sizes, diameters orconfigurations, and multiple groove, or multi-groove, guides are eachprovided with a plurality of corresponding apertures or passages ofdifferent sizes, diameters or configurations that correspond to aplurality of wire, or other material, sizes, diameters or configurationsto be coiled or processed, to minimize or reduce changing the feedtooling to accommodate a range of different sizes, diameters orconfigurations of wire, or other material, to be coiled or processed bythe dual point coiling apparatus.

According to aspects of the invention, the set of tools for a dual pointcoiling apparatus, such as the feed rolls and wire guides of themulti-groove feed system, is manufactured with multiple grooves,apertures or passageways. The plurality of different sized or configuredgrooves, apertures or passageways each typically cover a range ofdifferent sized or configured wire, or other material, within theoverall size or configuration range of the dual point coiling apparatus.Depending upon the size or configuration of the wire, or other material,to be run, the entire feed section of the machine is selectively movedaxially across the width of the feed rolls and guides to align thecorrect groove, aperture or passageway with the material line or wireline or path to the coiling or process area.

Exemplary embodiments and aspects of the present inventive apparatus andmethod are illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1A through 1E. FIGS. 1Aand 1B are perspective views illustrating a dual point coiler or coilingapparatus 1 including a multiple groove, or multi-groove, feed system 2to coil wire, or other material, of a range of different sizes,diameters or configurations, according to aspects of the invention. FIG.1C is a perspective front view of the dual point coiler 1 of FIGS. 1Aand 1B illustrating the multiple groove, or multi-groove, feed system 2.FIGS. 1D and 1E are a diagrammatic plan view and front view illustratingthe dual point coiler 1 including the multi-groove feed system 2 ofFIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIGS. 1A through 1E illustrate the multi-groove feed system 2 of thedual point coiling apparatus 1 to coil wire 36, such as to form aspring. The multi-groove feed system 2 includes a plurality of multiplegroove, or multi-groove, feed rolls 38 forming a set of feed rolls. Themulti-groove feed rolls 38 are secured to or associated with themulti-groove feed system 2 of the dual point coiling apparatus 1 by afeed roll retaining cap 42. The multi-groove feed rolls 38 convey thewire 36 to be coiled through a plurality of intermediate multi-groovewire guides 35, secured to or associated with the multi-groove feedsystem 2 of the dual point coiling apparatus 1, to a final wire guide orfinal guide 150,160 that presents the wire 36, or other material, to thecoiling point slides 28 and 30 to be coiled into a spring 32, or othersuitable arrangement, in a coiling or process area 33.

While the material to be fed through the multi-groove feed system 2 ofthe dual point coiling apparatus 1 is typically wires 36, the feedsystem and coiling apparatus according to aspects of the invention isnot limited in this regard. For example, the material to be fed can havea different cross section, shape or configuration, other than a roundcross section, configuration or shape typical of a wire, such as asquare, rectangular, spiral or half round cross section, configurationor shape. In addition, a variety of materials can be fed and coiledemploying the multi-groove feed system 2 of the dual point coilingapparatus 1 with this system, not just “spring steel” but low carbonsteel, as well as several non-metallic materials or plastic typematerials, for example.

Referring also now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, an exemplary multi-groove feedroll 38 is illustrated, according to aspects of the invention. Forexample, each of the plurality of multi-groove feed rolls 38, such as ina set of the multi-groove feed rolls 38, in the multi-groove feed system2 of the dual point coiling apparatus 1, has a plurality of grooves 40,such as grooves 40 a, 40 b, 40 c, and 40 d, of different sizes ordiameters, namely d1, d2, d3 and d4, respectively, such as illustratedin FIGS. 2A and 2B.

In the exemplary illustration of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the diameter d1corresponds to groove 40 a for a relatively large wire feed groove, thediameter d2 corresponds to groove 40 b for a relatively medium largewire feed groove, the diameter d3 corresponds to groove 40 c for arelatively medium small wire feed groove, and the diameter d4corresponds to groove 40 d for a relatively small wire feed groove, withthe diameters d1, d2, d3 and d4 being indicated by the correspondingarrows and circular arcs in FIG. 2B.

For example, a typical operational wire size range for wire 36 fedthrough the multi-groove feed system 2 of the dual point coilingapparatus 1 can be, for example, from about a 0.160 inch diameter toabout a 0.625 inch diameter wire. For such wire size range, the groovediameters d1, d2, d3 and d4 of the grooves 40 a, 40 b, 40 c and 40 d ofthe multi-groove feed roll 38, can typically correspond to the diameterd1 being about 0.625 inches, the diameter d2 being about 0.500 inches,the diameter d3 being about 0.375 inches, and the diameter d4 beingabout 0.250 inches, for example, although the invention is not limitedin this regard.

Further, while the multi-groove feed roll 38 illustrated in FIGS. 2A and2B includes four grooves 40 of 40 a, 40 b, 40 c and 40 d, of differingcorresponding sizes or diameters d1, d2, d3 and d4 in an order fromlargest to smallest diameter or size, the invention is not limited inthis regard. In the exemplary multi-groove feed system 2, a single setof multi-groove feed rolls 38 are typically provided to run the entirewire size range of wire to be coiled by the dual point coiling apparatus1, according to aspects of the invention. However, a plurality of setsof multi-groove feed rolls 38 can also be provided to run the entire orpart of the wire size range of wire 36 or other material to be coiledusing the multiple groove feed system 2, according to aspects of theinvention.

For example, rather than provide a single multi-groove feed roll 38 withthe four different size grooves 40 a, 40 b, 40 c and 40 d, two or moresets of feed rolls 38 can be provided, with the feed rolls 38 in eachset including one or more of the grooves 40 a through 40 d, or otherdifferent size or configuration grooves, dependent upon the material orapplication. In this regard, two sets of feed rolls 38 can be provided,for example, with one set of feed rolls 38 including the different sizegrooves 40 a and 40 b and the other set of feed rolls 38 including thedifferent size grooves 40 c and 40 d. Such single set of multi-groovefeed rolls 38, or a reduced number of sets or multi-groove feed rolls38, can minimize the need to change the feed tooling to accommodate arange of different sizes, diameters or configurations of wire, or othermaterial, for the dual point coiling apparatus 1, according to aspectsof the invention.

Referring now also to FIG. 4A, an exemplary intermediate multi-grooveguide, or multi-groove wire guide, 35 is illustrated, according toaspects of the invention. With the set of feed rolls 38, a plurality ofintermediate multi-groove guides, or multi-groove wire guides, 35, asillustrated in FIG. 4A, are also included in the multi-groove feedsystem 2 as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Each of the intermediatemulti-groove wire guides 35 include upper and lower sections 35 a 1 and35 a 2 and have a plurality of apertures or passages 35 a, 35 b, 35 cand 35 d of a size, diameter or configuration corresponding to the size,diameter or configuration of the respective grooves 40 a, 40 b, 40 c and40 d to receive and accommodate the corresponding relative diameter wire36 or other material to be coiled. In FIG. 4A the diameters orconfigurations of apertures or passages 35 a, 35 b, 35 c and 35 d aresubstantially the same as the diameters d1, d2, d3 and d4 orconfigurations of the grooves 40 a, 40 b, 40 c and 40 d, as indicated orillustrated by FIG. 4 a, although the invention is not limited in thisregard.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the upper and lower sections 35 a 1 and 35 a2 of the multi-groove guide 35 each include a plurality of groovedportions each corresponding to and forming a part of one of theapertures or passages 35 a, 35 b, 35 c and 35 d, where the upper andlower sections 35 a 1 and 35 a 2 are combined to form the multi-grooveguide 35. Alternatively, for example, the multi-groove guide can beformed and a single unit with the corresponding apertures or passages,such as the apertures or passages 35 a, 35 b, 35 c, and 35 d beingformed through or on the multi-groove guide, according to aspects of theinvention.

Further, while the multi-groove guide 35 illustrated in FIG. 4A includesfour apertures or passages 35 a, 35 b, 35 c and 35 d, of differingcorresponding sizes or diameters d1, d2, d3 and d4 in an order fromlargest to smallest diameter or size, the invention is not limited inthis regard. In the exemplary multi-groove feed system 2, a single setof multi-groove wire guides 35 are typically provided to run the entirewire size range of wire to be coiled by the dual point coiling apparatus1, according to aspects of the invention. However, a plurality of setsof multi-guide wire guides 35 can also be provided to run the entire orpart of the wire size range of wire 36, or a size range of othermaterial, to be coiled, or processed, using the multiple groove feedsystem 2, according to aspects of the invention.

For example, rather than provide a single set of multi-groove wireguides 35 with the four different size apertures or passages 35 a, 35 b,35 c and 35 d, two or more sets of wire guides 35 can be provided, withthe wire guides 35 in each set including one or more of the apertures orpassages 35 a through 35 d or other different size or configurationapertures or passages, dependent upon the material or application. Inthis regard, two sets of wire guides 35 can be provided, for example,with one set of wire guides 35, including the different size aperturesor passages 35 a and 35 b and the other set of wire guides 35 includingthe different size apertures or passages 35 c and 35 d. Such single setof multi-groove guides 35, or a reduced number of sets of multi-grooveguides 35, can minimize the need to change the feed tooling toaccommodate a range of wire, or other material, sizes, diameters, orconfigurations for the dual point coiling apparatus 1, according toaspects of the invention.

A plurality of multi-groove intermediate guides or wire guides 35, suchas illustrated in FIG. 4A, are typically positioned between themulti-groove feed rolls 38, such as illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 1C,to guide and keep the wire 36, or other material, moving along throughthe multi-groove feed system 2 to the coiling or process area 33.Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 1C, a multi-groove wireguide 35 is typically positioned in adjacent relation with one or morepairs of multi-groove feed rolls 38, with one multi-groove feed roll 38of one pair of multi-groove feed rolls 38 being arranged in opposingrelation to the other of the pair of multi-groove feed rolls 38. Also,as illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 1C, a plurality of multi-groove feedroll pairs are included in the multi-groove feed system 2, according toaspects of the invention. Typically, two to four pairs of multi-groovefeed rolls 38, corresponding to four to eight individual multi-groovefeed rolls 38 are included in the multi-groove feed system 2, accordingto aspects of the invention.

Within a movable feed frame 26 of the multi-groove feed system 2 of thedual point coiling apparatus 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 1C, aplurality of intermediate multi-groove guides 35, such as illustrated inFIG. 4A, are positioned or aligned in conjunction with a correspondingplurality of multi-groove feed rolls 38.

As illustrated from FIGS. 1A through 1C, and with reference to FIGS. 2A,2B and 4A, the aperture or passage 35 a in the intermediate multi-grooveguide 35 is aligned with the groove 40 a in corresponding multi-groovefeed roll 38, the aperture or passage 35 b in the intermediatemulti-groove guide 35 is aligned with the groove 40 b in correspondingmulti-groove feed roll 38, the aperture or passage 35 c in theintermediate multi-groove guide 35 is aligned with the groove 40 c incorresponding multi-groove feed roll 38 and the aperture or passage 35 din the intermediate multi-groove guide 35 is aligned with the groove 40d in corresponding multi-groove feed roll 38.

Such alignment of the grooves 40 of the plurality of multi-groove feedrolls 38 with the corresponding apertures and passages of the pluralityof multi-groove guides 35 provides for conveying and passing the wire36, or other material, in the multi-groove feed system 2 to be coiled,or processed, at the coiling or process area 33 of the dual pointcoiling apparatus 1.

Also, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 1C, a final wire guide or finalguide 150, 160, such as illustrated in FIGS. 6C or 6D, as previouslydescribed, in addition to being associated with the conventional singlegroove feed roll system 100 of FIG. 5A, is typically associated with themulti-groove feed system 2 proximate the coiling or process area 33adjacent an end of the plurality of multi-groove feed rolls 38. Thefinal wire guide or final guide 150, 160 includes upper and lowersections 150 a, 160 a and 150 b, 160 b having a single aperture orpassage 152, 162 of a corresponding size, diameter, radius orconfiguration to receive and accommodate the corresponding size,diameter, radius or configuration of the wire 36, or other material, tobe coiled, or processed, typically over a size range or configurationrange for the wire 36, or other material, to be coiled or processed inthe coiling or process area 33.

In the multi-groove feed system 2, it is possible to run a wire 36, orother material, of a size, radius or diameter that is smaller ordifferently configured than the predetermined wire size or configurationthrough a corresponding sized or configured groove 40 of a feed roll 38and through a corresponding sized or configured passage or aperture of awire guide 35.

Running a significantly reduced size or differently configured wire 36,or other material, of a significantly reduced sized or differentconfiguration, through a larger sized or differently configured groove40 or through a larger size or differently configured passage oraperture of a guide 35 can lead to the feed roll 38 no longer beingcapable of pushing the wire, or other material, with sufficient force tocoil or process the material.

However, in contrast to the conventional single groove feed system 100of FIG. 5A, according to aspects of the invention, with the multi-groovefeed system 2 of the present invention it is not typically necessary tochange a set of feed rolls and guides to accommodate the different sizedor configured wire 36 or other material.

In a set of multi-groove feed rolls 38 and multi-groove guides 35installed in the multi-groove feed system 2 on a dual point coilingapparatus 1, all that is typically needed, where the set of multi-groovefeed rolls 38 each has a groove 40 of a plurality of different sized orconfigured grooves 40 and the multi-groove wire guides 35 each has anaperture or passage of a plurality of differently sized or configuredapertures or passages that can accommodate the differently sized orconfigured wire 36, or other material, is to reposition or realign thefeed rolls 38 and guides 35 to receive and pass through the wire 36, orother material, through the accommodating groove, aperture or passage.

Adjusting, positioning and aligning the grooves 40 of the feed rolls 38and apertures or passages of the guides 35 to accommodate wires 36, orother materials, of different sizes or configurations, according toaspects of the invention, is now described with reference to FIGS. 1Athough 1E.

Referring to FIGS. 1A through 1E, the dual point coiling apparatus 1 hasa machine frame or base 10 that supports coiling or process area 33, themovable feed frame 26, and other components of the dual point coilingapparatus 1. A position transducer 20 monitors a position of moveablefeed frame 26, the moveable feed frame 26 typically being included withthe multi-groove feed system 2, according to aspects of the invention,although the invention is not limited in this regard.

The moveable feed frame 26 houses or includes various mechanicalcomponents (shafts, bearings, gears, etc.) of the dual point coilingapparatus 1 to enable rotation of the multi-groove feed rolls 38. Theposition transducer 20 provides a position feedback to align themoveable feed frame 26 at a predetermined position where the selectedgroove 40 of the feed rolls 38 and the corresponding selected apertureor passageway of the guides 35 to accommodate the wire 36, or othermaterial, of the corresponding size or configuration are aligned with awire line or material line or path 37 that is formed by or along whichthe wire or material is conveyed to the coiling or process area 33 to beprocessed. The wire line or material line or path 37, formed by or alongwhich the wire or material is conveyed to the coiling or process area 33is typically a substantially linear path, or typically proceeds in asubstantially linear direction, according to aspects of the invention,although the invention is not limited in this regard. Wire lines ormaterial lines or paths that are other than linear or substantiallylinear can also be formed, depending upon the use, application orprocess, according to aspects of the invention.

The moveable feed frame 26 includes a clamping strip or clamping member24 that is typically positioned on one or both ends of a side, orextends the length of a side, of the moveable feed frame 26, asillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The clamping strip or clamping member 24provides a clamping surface that is selectively engaged and disengagedwith a securing clamp or securing member 22 that is associated with themachine base or frame 10.

The securing clamp or securing member 22 is typically hydraulicallyactuated, for example. The securing clamp or securing member 22 isreleased from a locking position with the clamping strip or clampingmember 24 before initiating movement of the movable feed frame 26. Thesecuring clamp or securing member 22 is locked in the locking positionafter movement of the movable feed frame 26 to a new or differentposition.

The selective engaging and disengaging of the securing clamp or securingmember 22 with the clamping strip or clamping member 24 enables themoveable feed frame 26 to move in reciprocal directions along the axis Aso as to align and position the multi-groove feed rolls 38 andmulti-groove guides 35 at one or more predetermined positions toaccommodate a predetermined size or configuration of the wire 36, orother material, to be fed through or along a corresponding sized orconfigured groove 40 and along or through a corresponding sized orconfigured aperture or passageway of the wire guides 35.

A moveable feed frame position drive motor 16 rotates through a movablefeed frame drive reducer 18 to rotate a member, such as a screw 12, toselectively move or translate the movable feed frame 26 reciprocallyalong axis “A” to a position or align the selected feed wire groove 40,such as one of grooves 40 a, 40 b, 40 c or 40 d, of the feed rolls 38and the corresponding selected aperture or passageway of the wire guides35, such as one of apertures or passageways 35 a, 35 b, 345 c or 35 d,to accommodate the wire 36, or other material, of the corresponding sizeor configuration to be coiled, such as into a spring 32 or other coiledarrangement and to align with the wire line or material line or path 37to the coiling or process area 33. The roll retaining cap 42respectively secures, or associates, the multi-groove feed rolls 38 tothe movable feed frame 26.

To move the wire 36, or other material, to be coiled, a wire feed drivemotor 14. is caused to rotate, with a wire feed drive reducer 15receiving a rotational input from the wire feed drive motor 14translating to a rotational output through a coupling 13 to themulti-groove feed rolls 38. The rotation of the motor 14 thereby enablesthe rotation of the multi-groove feed rolls 38 to enable the wire 36, orother material, to be coiled, or otherwise processed, to be fed throughthe multi-groove wire guides 35 through the final wire guide or finalguide 150,160 into the coiling or process area 33. In the coiling orprocess area 33, the wire 36, or other material, is coiled or processed,such as by the dual coiling points 28 and 30, into a spring 32, 32 a, orother suitable coiled arrangement, such as to be wound on a spool, forexample.

Referring to FIG. 3A, for example, FIG. 3A illustrates the movable feedframe 26 positioned along the axis A in a forward most position, as apredetermined position, to align the groove 40 a of the multi-groovefeed rolls 38 with the wire line or material line or path 37, accordingto aspects of the invention. This position of the moveable feed frame 26accommodates a relatively large wire size, such as the largest wire sizethat can be run on the dual point coiling apparatus 1. As the wire 36,or other material, passes through the multi-groove feed section 2 itenters coiling or process area 33 where it is coiled into a spring 32 orotherwise processed into another suitable arrangement, for example.

Referring now to FIG. 3B, for example, FIG. 3B illustrates the movablefeed frame 26 positioned along the axis A in a rear most position, as apredetermined position, to align the groove 40 d of the multi-groovefeed rolls 38 with the wire line or material line or path 37, accordingto aspects of the invention. This position of the moveable feed frame 26accommodates a relatively smaller wire size, such as the smallest wiresize that can be run on the dual point coiling apparatus 1. As the wire36, or other material, passes through the multi-groove feed section 2 itenters coiling or process area 33 where it is coiled into a spring 32 aor otherwise processed into another suitable arrangement, for example.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3A and 3B, according to aspects of theinvention, positioning the moveable feed frame 26 in variouspredetermined positions along the axis A to accommodate various sizes orconfigurations of wire, substantially maintains the wire line ormaterial line or path 37 to the coiling or process area 33 at arelatively same position, such as with respect to the base or frame 10.For example, referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, moving the moveable feedframe 26 from a predetermined position to accommodate the relativelylarge wire size in the groove 40 a in FIG. 3A to the right to apredetermined position to accommodate the relatively smaller wire sizein groove 40 b in FIG. 3B substantially maintains the wire line ormaterial line or path 37 in a relatively same position with respect tothe base or frame 10.

The maintaining of the alignment of the wire line or material line orpath 37 at a relatively same position allows a single set, or a reducednumber of sets, of feed rolls 38 and guides 35 to run the entire sizerange or configuration range to be accommodated without the need, or tominimize the need with a reduced number of sets, to change the feedtooling to accommodate the size range or configuration range, such as arange of wire diameter sizes for the dual point coiling apparatus 1.

To accomplish the described movement of the moveable feed frame 26 fromthe position shown in FIG. 3A to the position shown in FIG. 3B, or toany intermediate position, to position the feed rolls 38 and wire guides35 to accommodate various sizes and configurations of the wire 36, orother material, to be coiled or processed, the securing clamp orsecuring member 22, or securing clamps or securing members 22, is/arereleased from the locking position with the corresponding clamping stripor clamping member 24. Once the moveable feed frame 26 is moved to theposition illustrated in FIG. 3B, or to any intermediate position, thesecuring clamp or member 22 is reset to the locking or clamping positionon clamping strip or clamping strips 22.

Movement of the moveable feed frame 26 is initiated, for example, by anentry to select the appropriate feed groove position made via aselection input on an operator station 82 of the dual point coilingapparatus 1. When the required position has been selected, the operatortypically enters a “go to position” command also via the operatorstation 82. This command releases the hydraulically actuated clamps 22unlocking the feed section clamping strip 24 to enable the moveable feedframe 26 to move to the predetermined or pre-selected position alongaxis A. Hydraulic pressure, for example, to enable the movementoperation to move the moveable feed frame 26 is generated and directedto the clamps 22 by hydraulic power units 20, 23 and 25.

In response to the command from the operator station 82, the drivesystem 81, including the moveable feed frame position drive motor 16 andthe movable feed frame drive reducer 18, moves the moveable feed frame26 until it is in the correct or predetermined position as determined bythe linear position transducer 20. Once the move to the correct positionhas been competed, the hydraulically actuated clamps 22 are reset ontothe feed section clamping strip 24 securing the moveable feed section orframe 26 in its new position.

The wire 36, or other material, to be coiled or processed into a spring32, 32 a, or other suitable arrangement, is advanced into the coiling orprocessing area 33 by the multi-groove feed rolls 38 through theintermediate wire guides 35. Prior to being coiled into a spring 32, 32a, or other suitable arrangement, the wire 36, or other material, passesthrough the final wire guide or final guide 150, 160. When wire 36, orother material, enters into the coiling or processing area 33 it comesinto contact with the processing components, such as the upper and lowercoiling points 30 and 28 and is then coiled, or otherwise processed.

Although various examples of dual point coiling apparatus including amulti-groove feed system have been shown and described in relation tocoiling wire or other material into a spring or other suitablearrangement, it will be appreciated that the multi-groove feed system,according to aspects of the invention, can also used for other items orapplications, such as for other drawing, pushing or extrusion typeoperations or processes. Further, although the multi-groove feed systemis useful to coil wire, or other material, into a spring, or othersuitable arrangement, the present invention can also be used to do otherthings and/or in other industries.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thedetailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, sincenumerous modifications and variations will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction and operation illustrated and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the invention.

1. A multi-groove feed system, comprising: a plurality of multi-groovefeed rolls each including a plurality of different sized or configuredgrooves to feed a material of a predetermined size or configuration in acorresponding selected one of the plurality of grooves; one or moremulti-groove guides positioned intermediate adjacent ones of theplurality of multi-groove feed rolls, with each multi-groove guideincluding a plurality of different sized or configured apertures orpassages that correspond in size or configuration to the plurality ofgrooves of the multi-groove feed rolls to guide the material of thepredetermined size or configuration through a selected one of theplurality of apertures or passages that corresponds to the correspondingselected one of the plurality of grooves; and a moveable feed frameassociated with the plurality of multi-groove feed rolls and the one ormore multi-groove guides, the moveable feed frame being moveable to apredetermined position to align the corresponding selected one of theplurality of grooves and the corresponding selected one of the pluralityof apertures or passages with a material line to a process area toconvey the material of the predetermined size or configuration along thematerial line to the process area.
 2. The multi-groove feed system ofclaim 1, further comprising: a final guide associated with the processarea, the final guide being located proximate to the process areaadjacent to an end of the plurality of multi-groove feed rolls, thefinal guide including an aperture or passage to guide the material ofthe predetermined size or configuration aligned with the material lineto the process area.
 3. The multi-groove feed system of claim 2,wherein: each multi-groove guide is positioned in adjacent relation withone or more pairs of the multi-groove feed rolls, with one multi-groovefeed roll of a pair of multi-groove feed rolls being arranged inopposing relation to the other multi-groove feed roll of the pair ofmulti-groove feed rolls.
 4. The multi-groove feed system of claim 3,wherein: the multiple groove feed system comprises one or more sets ofthe multi-groove feed rolls and the one or more multi-groove guides, theone or more sets including the plurality of grooves and the plurality ofpassages or apertures to convey all or part of a range of differentsized or configured material to be processed in the process area.
 5. Themulti-groove feed system of claim 3, wherein: the multiple groove feedsystem comprises a single set of the multi-groove feed rolls and the oneor more multi-groove guides, the single set including the plurality ofgrooves and the plurality of passages or apertures to convey an entiresize range of the material to be processed in the process area.
 6. Themulti-groove feed system of claim 1, wherein: the multiple groove feedsystem comprises one or more sets of the multi-groove feed rolls and theone or more multi-groove guides, the one or more sets including theplurality of grooves and the plurality of passages or apertures toconvey all or part of a range of different sized or configured materialto be processed in the process area.
 7. The multi-groove feed system ofclaim 1, wherein: the multiple groove feed system comprises a single setof the multi-groove feed rolls and the one or more multi-groove guides,the single set including the plurality of grooves and the plurality ofpassages or apertures to convey an entire size range of the material tobe processed in the process area.
 8. The multi-groove feed system ofclaim 1, wherein: each multi-groove guide is positioned in adjacentrelation with one or more pairs of the multi-groove feed rolls, with onemulti-groove feed roll of a pair of multi-groove feed rolls beingarranged in opposing relation to the other multi-groove feed roll of thepair of multi-groove feed rolls.
 9. A multi-groove feed system of a dualpoint coiling apparatus, comprising: a plurality of multi-groove feedrolls each including a plurality of different sized grooves to feed awire of a predetermined size in a corresponding selected one of theplurality of grooves; and one or more multi-groove guides positionedintermediate adjacent ones of the plurality of multi-groove feed rolls,with each multi-groove guide including a plurality of different sizedapertures or passages that correspond in size to the plurality ofgrooves of the multi-groove feed rolls to guide the wire of thepredetermined size through a selected one of the plurality of aperturesor passages that corresponds to the corresponding selected one of theplurality of grooves, with the corresponding selected one of theplurality of grooves and the corresponding selected one of the pluralityof apertures or passages being selectively aligned at a correspondingpredetermined position with a wire line to a coiling area of the dualpoint coiling apparatus to convey the wire of the predetermined sizealong the wire line to the coiling area to coil the wire.
 10. Themulti-groove feed system of the dual point coiling apparatus of claim 9,further comprising: a moveable feed frame associated with the pluralityof multi-groove feed rolls and the one or more multi-groove guides, themoveable feed frame being moveable to the predetermined position toalign the corresponding selected one of the plurality of grooves and thecorresponding selected one of the plurality of apertures or passageswith the wire line to the coiling area of the dual point coilingapparatus.
 11. The multi-groove feed system of the dual point coilingapparatus of claim 10, wherein: the multiple groove feed systemcomprises a single set of the multi-groove feed rolls and the one ormore multi-groove guides, the single set including the plurality ofgrooves and the plurality of passages or apertures to convey an entiresize range of the wire to be coiled in the coiling area of the dualpoint coiling apparatus.
 12. The multi-groove feed system of the dualpoint coiling apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a final guideassociated with the coiling area of the dual point coiling apparatus,the final guide being located proximate to the coiling area adjacent toan end of the plurality of multi-groove feed rolls, the final guideincluding an aperture or passage to guide the wire of the predeterminedsize to the coiling area of the dual point coiling apparatus.
 13. Themulti-groove feed system of the dual point coiling apparatus of claim10, further comprising: a final guide associated with the coiling areaof the dual point coiling apparatus, the final guide being locatedproximate to the coiling area adjacent to an end of the plurality ofmulti-groove feed rolls, the final guide including an aperture orpassage to guide the wire of the predetermined size to the coiling areaof the dual point coiling apparatus.
 14. The multi-groove feed system ofthe dual point coiling apparatus of claim 9, wherein: the multiplegroove feed system comprises a single set of the multi-groove feed rollsand the one or more multi-groove guides, the single set including theplurality of grooves and the plurality of passages or apertures toconvey an entire size range of the wire to be coiled in the coiling areaof the dual point coiling apparatus.
 15. The multi-groove feed system ofthe dual point coiling apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: afinal guide associated with the coiling area of the dual point coilingapparatus, the final guide being located proximate to the coiling areaadjacent to an end of the plurality of multi-groove feed rolls, thefinal guide including an aperture or passage to guide the wire of thepredetermined size to the coiling area of the dual point coilingapparatus.
 16. The multi-groove feed system of the dual point coilingapparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a final guide associated withthe coiling area of the dual point coiling apparatus, the final guidebeing located proximate to the coiling area adjacent to an end of theplurality of multi-groove feed rolls, the final guide including anaperture or passage to guide the wire of the predetermined size to thecoiling area of the dual point coiling apparatus.
 17. A multi-groovefeed system, comprising: means for feeding a material of a predeterminedsize or configuration to a process area, the means for feeding includinga plurality of different sized or configured grooves to feed thematerial of the predetermined size or configuration in a correspondingselected one of the plurality of grooves; means for guiding the materialof the predetermined size or configuration to the process area, themeans for guiding being positioned adjacent the means for feeding, withthe means for guiding including a plurality of different sized orconfigured apertures or passages that correspond in size orconfiguration to the plurality of grooves of the means for feeding toguide the material of the predetermined size or configuration through aselected one of the plurality of apertures or passages that correspondsto the corresponding selected one of the plurality of grooves; and meansfor aligning the corresponding selected one of the plurality of groovesand the corresponding selected one of the plurality of apertures orpassages with a material line to a process area to convey the materialof the predetermined size or configuration along the material line tothe process area.
 18. The multi-groove feed system of claim 17, furthercomprising: a final guide means including an aperture or passage forguiding the material of the predetermined size or configuration from oneend of the means for feeding to the process area.
 19. The multi-groovefeed system of claim 18, wherein: the means for feeding includes aplurality of multi-groove feed rolls, the means for guiding includes oneor more multi-groove guides, and the means for aligning includes amoveable feed frame associated with the means for feeding and the meansfor guiding to align the corresponding selected one of the plurality ofgrooves and the corresponding selected one of the plurality of aperturesor passages at a predetermined position with the material line to theprocess area.
 20. The multi-groove feed system of claim 17, wherein: themeans for feeding includes a plurality of multi-groove feed rolls, themeans for guiding includes one or more multi-groove guides, and themeans for aligning includes a moveable feed frame associated with themeans for feeding and the means for guiding to align the correspondingselected one of the plurality of grooves and the corresponding selectedone of the plurality of apertures or passages at a predeterminedposition with the material line to the process area.
 21. A method offeeding a material along a material line to a process area, comprising:feeding a material of a predetermined size or configuration to a processarea by conveying the material in a corresponding selected one of aplurality of different sized or configured grooves of a multi-groovefeed roll; guiding the material of the predetermined size orconfiguration to the process area through a corresponding selected oneof a plurality of different sized or configured apertures or passages ofa multi-groove guide that corresponds to the corresponding selected oneof the plurality of grooves of the multi-groove feed roll; and aligningat a predetermined position the corresponding selected one of theplurality of grooves of each multi-groove feed roll and thecorresponding selected one of the plurality of apertures or passages ofeach multi-groove guide with a material line to the process area. 22.The method of feeding a material of claim 21, further comprising: movingeach multi-groove feed roll and each multi-groove guide to align at thepredetermined position the corresponding selected one of the pluralityof grooves and the corresponding selected one of the plurality ofapertures or passages with the material line to the process area. 23.The method of feeding a material of claim 22, further comprising:conveying the material of the predetermined size or configuration alongthe material line to the process area.
 24. The method of feeding amaterial of claim 21, further comprising: conveying the material of thepredetermined size or configuration along the material line to theprocess area.
 25. A method of feeding a wire in a dual point coilingapparatus, comprising: feeding a wire of a predetermined size to acoiling area of the dual point coiling apparatus by conveying the wirein a corresponding selected one of a plurality of different sizedgrooves of a multi-groove feed roll; guiding the wire of thepredetermined size to the coiling area through a corresponding selectedone of a plurality of different sized apertures or passages of amulti-groove guide that corresponds to the corresponding selected one ofthe plurality of grooves of the multi-groove feed roll; and aligning ata predetermined position the corresponding selected one of the pluralityof grooves of each multi-groove feed roll and the corresponding selectedone of the plurality of apertures or passages of each multi-groove guidewith a wire line to the coiling area.
 26. The method of feeding a wirein a dual point coiling apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:moving each multi-groove feed roll and each multi-groove guide to alignat the predetermined position the corresponding selected one of theplurality of grooves and the corresponding selected one of the pluralityof apertures or passages with the wire line to the coiling area.
 27. Themethod of feeding a wire in a dual point coiling apparatus of claim 26,further comprising: conveying the wire of the predetermined size alongthe wire line to the coiling area of the dual point coiling apparatus.28. The method of feeding a wire in a dual point coiling apparatus ofclaim 25, further comprising: conveying the wire of the predeterminedsize along the wire line to the coiling area of the dual point coilingapparatus.